8 Best Places to Visit in Botswana on Safari

A true miracle of nature, the Okavango Delta is a vast inland wetland that spreads like a glittering fan across the arid sands of the Kalahari Desert. Fed by waters that travel from the Angolan highlands, this UNESCO World Heritage Site transforms a parched landscape into a thriving oasis of islands, lagoons, and winding channels. This unique ecosystem supports an astonishing density of wildlife, making a safari here dynamic. Activities shift from game drives on palm-fringed islands to serene excursions by boat or traditional canoe, offering a constantly changing perspective on one of Africa’s last great wildernesses.

Why You Should Go

This phenomenal natural wonder offers a safari experience unlike any other on the continent.

• A unique ecosystem offers the unparalleled experience of a flourishing wetland deep within a desert.
• Varied activities combine classic 4x4 game drives with water-based excursions for a comprehensive safari.
• Mokoro excursions allow you to glide silently through pristine channels for intimate, eye-level wildlife encounters.
• Abundant wildlife includes large herds of elephants and buffalo, resident predators, and countless bird species.
• Exclusive camps are situated on remote islands, ensuring a sense of seclusion and an intimate connection to nature.

Best Time to Visit

Timing your visit depends on whether you wish to prioritize peak water levels or wildlife concentrations during the dry season.

• Peak season from June to August offers mild temperatures and high floodwaters, ideal for water activities.
• Prime game-viewing occurs from July to September as animals congregate along the receding waters.
• Aquatic beauty is at its best from May to October when the channels are full and easily navigable.
• A birder paradise emerges during the wetter months from November to April, with migrant species arriving.
• The shoulder months of May and October provide a great balance of good weather and fewer crowds.

Recommended Length of Stay: 3-5 Days

Let our specialists design your Premier Botswana Safari: Exclusive Paradise.

Covering nearly half of the Okavango Delta, the Moremi Game Reserve is a sanctuary of breathtaking diversity and one of the most famous protected areas in Africa. Named after Chief Moremi III, it is unique for being the first reserve on the continent established by local residents. Its landscapes are a stunning mosaic of habitats, from permanent swamps and rivers to vast floodplains, lagoons, and dense mopane woodlands. This rich variety of ecosystems supports an abundance of wildlife, including some of Botswana's most significant populations of endangered African wild dogs and large coalitions of cheetahs.

Why You Should Go

Moremi is celebrated for its exceptional year-round game-viewing and its vital role in conservation.

• Exceptional predators are a major draw, with frequent sightings of lions, leopards, and cheetahs.
• Wild dogs thrive here, offering one of the best chances in Africa to see these rare and fascinating carnivores.
• Diverse habitats range from wetlands to dry forests, supporting an incredible variety of species.
• Abundant birdlife features over 500 species, making it a world-class destination for ornithologists.
• Rich ecosystems create a vibrant landscape where lush vegetation and prolific wildlife are always on display.

Best Time to Visit

The dry winter season is generally considered the best time for a classic safari experience in Moremi.

• Prime season from July to October offers spectacular game viewing as wildlife concentrates around water.
• Mild weather between May and September provides pleasant daytime temperatures and cool, dry conditions.
• Clear sightings are common during the dry months as vegetation thins out, making animals easier to spot.
• Lush scenery and fantastic birding opportunities characterize the wetter "green season" from December to April.
• Fewer crowds in the shoulder months of April, May, and November can provide a more exclusive feel.

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 Days

Understand what a typical day of exploration entails with Zicasso’s What to Expect From a Day on Safari.

Located in a remote and mysterious corner of Chobe National Park, Savuti is known for its dramatic landscapes and intense predator action. The region is defined by the enigmatic Savuti Channel, which flows and dries up for decades at a time. This completely transforms the environment and wildlife dynamics. This ever-changing water source and the expansive Savuti Marsh and dry mopane forests create a starkly beautiful arena for epic wildlife encounters. It is a place of untamed wilderness, where the age-old contest between predator and prey unfolds daily.

Why You Should Go

Savuti offers a thrilling and raw safari experience centered on its famous predator populations.

• Predator action is legendary, with powerful lion prides and rival hyena clans competing for dominance.
• The famous marsh acts as a magnet for wildlife, attracting vast herds and the predators that hunt them.
• Its unique landscape is a stark, beautiful contrast between the marsh, dry woodlands, and rocky outcrops.
• Elephant encounters are common, with large bulls frequently seen navigating the challenging environment.
• The remote feel provides a sense of true isolation and adventure in the heart of Chobe National Park.

Best Time to Visit

The dry winter months are ideal for witnessing the intense wildlife interactions for which Savuti is famous.

• Peak viewing from May through August offers concentrated wildlife sightings around remaining water sources.
• Dry conditions make for easier travel and thinner vegetation, improving visibility of animals.
• Chilly nights during the winter months require warm layers, but daytime temperatures are pleasant.
• Summer rains from December to March bring migratory birds and a burst of new life to the landscape.
• Dramatic skies and excellent photographic opportunities are a hallmark of the wet season.

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 Days

Find the perfect safari for your interests with our guide on How to Choose a Safari Destination for Your Trip.

The Linyanti Wildlife Reserve is an exclusive and remote corner of the Chobe National Park ecosystem, accessible only by light aircraft. This private concession is defined by the Linyanti River and its associated swamps, creating a tranquil and life-sustaining haven for a remarkable density of wildlife. The landscape is a rich tapestry of riverine forests, open woodlands, and lagoons that attract enormous herds, particularly during the dry winter months. Known for its exclusivity and high-quality guiding, Linyanti offers a diverse range of safari activities and an intimate connection with the African bush.

Why You Should Go

Linyanti offers an exclusive, crowd-free safari with exceptional wildlife and diverse activities.

• Exclusive access to a vast private concession ensures an intimate and uncrowded safari experience.
• Elephant herds congregate in huge numbers along the river during the dry season, creating incredible spectacles.
• Predator sightings are excellent, with strong populations of lions, leopards, and endangered African wild dogs.
• Diverse activities include day and night game drives, walking safaris, and boating excursions.
• Superb birding is a highlight, with the river and swamp environments attracting a vast array of species.

Best Time to Visit

While it is a fantastic year-round destination, the dry season offers the most concentrated game viewing.

• The dry season from May to October is the ideal time to witness large herds gathering along the Linyanti River.
• The zebra migration can be witnessed in January and February as herds move through the area.
• Peak birding occurs during the wet months, when migratory species are present and in breeding plumage.
• Night drives are particularly rewarding, offering chances to see nocturnal animals like aardvark and civet.
• A pleasant climate during the winter months in the Southern Hemisphere provides warm days and cool nights that are perfect for a safari.

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 Days

Learn more about what makes Botswana a premier safari destination in our 7 Reasons You Should Choose Botswana for Your Safari.

As Botswana’s first and most biologically diverse national park, Chobe is a titan of the safari world. It is most famous for harboring the largest concentration of elephants on the planet, a truly breathtaking sight, especially when viewed from the water. There is constant activity in the park, from the deep calls of hippos echoing across the Chobe River to lions lazing in the shade and vast herds of buffalo grazing on the floodplains. With its rich biodiversity and the unique opportunity for land- and river-based safaris, Chobe offers one of Africa's most rewarding and dynamic wildlife experiences.

Why You Should Go

Chobe is an essential stop for its unparalleled elephant populations and unique river-based safaris.

• Elephant herds are present in astonishing numbers, providing guaranteed and spectacular sightings.
• River safaris offer a unique perspective, allowing you to watch wildlife from a boat on the Chobe River.
• Big Five viewing is possible, with frequent encounters with lions, leopards, buffalo, and elephants.
• Prolific birdlife is a major draw, especially along the riverfront, where hundreds of species congregate.
• Easy access from nearby towns and Victoria Falls makes it a popular and convenient safari destination.

Best Time to Visit

The dry season from May to October is the best time to take advantage of Chobe's exceptional wildlife viewing.

• The prime months from May to September offer the best game viewing as animals flock to the river.
• Extreme Heat in October still provides good viewing, but can be uncomfortable for some travelers.
• Fantastic birdwatching is the highlight of the wetter months, particularly from January to February.
• Lush landscapes and newborn animals are features of the green season from December to April.
• River cruises are exceptional during the dry season, when huge herds come to the riverbanks to drink.

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 Days

Discover more about the incredible animals you can encounter in The Big Five, The Little Five, and How to See Them.

The Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pans are the remnants of a once-massive super-lake, now transformed into one of the largest salt flat networks in the world. This is a landscape of immense scale and profound silence, where the sky feels endless and the horizons stretch to infinity. Scattered with ancient baobab trees and grassy plains, the pans undergo a dramatic transformation from a stark, white desert in the dry season to a shallow, shimmering lake in the wet season. This seasonal change triggers one of Africa’s great migrations and creates a safari experience that is utterly unique and deeply humbling.

Why You Should Go

This region offers a safari experience defined by vast, unique landscapes and dramatic seasonal changes.

• The zebra migration is spectacular as thousands of zebra and wildebeest move into the area.
• Dynamic scenery transforms from shimmering salt pans in the dry season to lush grasslands in the wet.
• Baobab trees stand like ancient sentinels on the plains, creating iconic and photogenic landscapes.
• Quad biking across the expansive salt pans offers a thrilling and unique way to explore.
• Flamingos arrive in the thousands during the rainy season, creating a sea of pink.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit depends entirely on which natural spectacle you wish to witness.

• The dry season from May to November is when animals congregate around the few permanent waterholes.
• Migration season between December and February is the best time to see the zebra and wildebeest herds.
• Peak birding occurs in January and February, when the pans hold water, attracting migratory waterbirds.
• Stargazing opportunities are incredible year-round due to the lack of light pollution.
• Quad biking adventures are only possible during the dry season when the pans are solid.

Recommended Length of Stay: 2 Days

For more inspiration, see our Getting Lost in Botswana’s Wilderness Tour: Makgadikgadi, Kalahari, and Nxai Pan.

Stretching across a vast expanse of central Botswana, the Central Kalahari Game Reserve is one of the most remote and escapist safari destinations in Africa. This is a land of stark, evocative beauty, where ancient riverbeds lie dormant and rolling sand dunes are covered with resilient grasses and hardy acacia trees. During the dry season, life is sustained by shrinking waterholes, but the arrival of summer rains transforms the landscape into a carpet of green, attracting herds of game. A safari here is a hypnotic journey into a true wilderness, offering an unparalleled sense of solitude and space.

Why You Should Go

The Central Kalahari provides a unique desert safari experience with specially adapted wildlife and profound solitude.

• Desert wildlife includes iconic species like the Kalahari black-maned lion, cheetah, and oryx.
• Meerkat colonies are a delightful highlight and observing their social behavior is a captivating experience.
• Remote wilderness provides an escapist safari with a powerful sense of isolation and immense open space.
• Cultural encounters with the San people offer insight into their ancient connection with this arid land.
• Seasonal transformation sees the desert burst into life with the arrival of the summer rains.

Best Time to Visit

Unlike most Botswana parks, the green season is often considered the most rewarding time to visit.

• The wet season from December to March is the best time to witness wildlife migrations and congregations.
• Lush conditions after the rains bring forth beautiful wildflowers and flourishing grasslands.
• Excellent photography opportunities are found during the green season, with dramatic skies and vibrant colors.
• The dry season from May to September gives you a classic desert experience, with animals found near water sources.
• Clear nights for stargazing are a feature year-round, but especially during the dry winter months.

Recommended Length of Stay: 2 Days

Learn about the best times to travel throughout the country with our information on the Best Time to Visit Botswana.

Located in a secluded corner of southeastern Botswana bordering South Africa and Zimbabwe, the Northern Tuli Game Reserve is a unique and dramatic landscape. Often called the “Land of Giants,” it comprises several private concessions along the Limpopo River, with the Tuli Block characterized by its striking rocky outcrops, ancient riverine forests, and vast open plains. This diverse terrain supports a broad mix of wildlife and allows for an inspiring blend of safari activities, including night drives and walking safaris, which are not permitted in the national parks.

Why You Should Go

Tuli offers a diverse and active safari in a scenically dramatic and less-visited part of Botswana.

• Unique scenery features dramatic sandstone formations, massive baobab trees, and the winding Limpopo River.
• Private concessions allow for a wider range of activities, including walking safaris and night drives.
• Large elephants are a hallmark of the region, with some of the largest free-roaming herds in Africa.
• Diverse wildlife includes four of the Big Five, as well as unique characters like the brown hyena.
• Superb bird-watching opportunities are available, with many unique species drawn to the diverse habitats.

Best Time to Visit

The dry season is the most popular time to visit as animals are drawn to the permanent water of the rivers.

• The dry season from May to September sees large numbers of animals congregating near the Limpopo River.
• Pleasant weather during the winter offers warm, sunny days and cool nights for comfortable safaris.
• Walking safaris are best during the dry months, when vegetation is less dense.
• The green season from November to April brings lush landscapes and is excellent for birding.
• Shoulder months like April, May, and October often provide great value and good viewing conditions.

Recommended Length of Stay: 2 Days

Personalize a Bucket-List Botswana safari to include Northern Tuli.

Botswana's diverse landscapes offer a safari for every traveler, from the shimmering channels of the Okavango Delta to the vast salt pans of the Kalahari. Whether you seek thrilling predator action or solitude, the country’s blend of raw wilderness and exclusive luxury ensures a journey tailored to your dreams.

Discover more about these incredible places and find further inspiration for your adventure with Zicasso’s Botswana safari tours and vacation packages. You can also take a look at our comprehensive Botswana safari guide.